Sequestration Could Affect Arkansas Air Travel

A high number of U.S. military veterans (and a few non-vets) who chose to continue serving their country as Air Traffic Controllers and FAA technicians are facing the high probability of being furloughed. Much of this mess is the result of U.S. officials (in their respective branches of federal government) failing to reach agreement on which expenditures should be among our nation's priorities. This bureaucratic standoff begs the question: Should legislators doubt, even for a second, whether the safety of the airspace above us is a priority? Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT) are constructed for the very specific and important purpose of separating aircraft in the skies to prevent collisions. They exist for the safety of aircraft passengers and for individuals on the ground or in buildings who do not wish to be struck by aircraft. For several reasons, ATCT's also become highly valuable in national security/defense situations. With the closure of these ATCT's, it is baffling that we would allow our nation's leaders to damage the integrity of our national airspace system, and therefore jeopardize the safety of our citizens on the ground and in the air. Additionally, since Air Transportation is a key component of our nation's economy, this risky experiment of closing Air Traffic Control Towers seems like, in its totality, a very poor idea. Pay close attention to the sky above us once U.S. officials commence with the closure of numerous Air Traffic Control Towers, because many FAA employees might be furloughed on that particular day, or they may no longer have a structure for monitoring and ensuring safe air traffic across our nation's skies.